Four American soldiers have been found dead after disappearing during a training exercise in Lithuania, prompting a joint investigation into the circumstances of this tragic incident.
Key Takeaways
- Four US soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division were found deceased at a training ground in Pabradė, Lithuania.
- The soldiers went missing during a scheduled tactical exercise along with their M88 recovery vehicle.
- A joint search operation involving US and Lithuanian forces identified the location of the incident.
- The training accident occurred near the border with Belarus, in a region with heightened military presence.
- Officials are conducting a full investigation before releasing additional details about the circumstances.
Search and Recovery Operation
A major search and recovery operation was launched after four American soldiers from the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division went missing during a scheduled tactical training exercise at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė, Lithuania. The operation involved coordinated efforts between US military personnel, Lithuanian Armed Forces, and local emergency responders, including helicopters from the Lithuanian Air Force and assistance from the State Border Guard Service.
Initial reports mentioned three soldiers missing, but officials later confirmed that four US Army soldiers based at Fort Stewart, Georgia were involved in the incident. Their M88 recovery vehicle – a large armored vehicle used by US Armed Forces – was also reported missing during the exercise. The training ground is located near Lithuania’s border with Belarus, an area that has seen increased NATO military presence in recent years.
BREAKING:
4 US soldiers have been found dead after they have mysteriously disappeared during a training exercise in Lithuania.
Reportedly their bodies were found near the border with Belarus. pic.twitter.com/WNziV0N3oT
— Current Report (@Currentreport1) March 26, 2025
Official Response
Lithuanian and US authorities quickly mobilized resources to locate the missing soldiers. The US Embassy in Vilnius confirmed the search operation was underway but initially did not release details about the soldiers’ status. As the situation developed, officials identified a possible location of the incident, though details were closely guarded during the active search phase.
V Corps Commanding General Charles Constanza expressed gratitude to the Lithuanian forces for their quick response during the search operations. The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing military cooperation between the United States and Baltic NATO allies, which has intensified following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Local police and military investigators are now working to clarify the circumstances surrounding the soldiers’ deaths.
Regional Context and Investigation
The training exercise took place in a geopolitically sensitive region. Lithuania, along with Latvia and Estonia, are NATO members that have maintained heightened military readiness due to tensions with neighboring Russia. The Baltic nations have hosted increased numbers of NATO troops, including US forces, as part of the alliance’s enhanced forward presence following regional security developments in recent years.
Officials have urged discretion as the investigation proceeds. Giedrimas Jeglinskas, Chairman of the Lithuanian parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defence, called for respect and restraint in public comments until the investigation provides clarity. The US military has not yet released the identities of the deceased soldiers, following protocol to ensure proper notification of family members. Additional information is expected as the investigation progresses.
Sources:
Four US soldiers killed and tank disappears in Lithuania as search teams scrambled
4 US Army soldiers reported missing during scheduled tactical training in Lithuania: US Embassy
Four US soldiers found dead near Belarus border in mystery tragedy
